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“You obeyed?Him?When you’re of equal rank?” The fierce features drifted into amusement.
“He threatened to involve you if I didn’t.” Tranis scowled.
“I heartily endorse rivals tattling to clanmates for the good of my Dramok,” Degorsk chuckled.
“I’ll be sure to send Piras a thank-you message,” Cassidy joined in. “We need you healthy in the months ahead.”
He noted her flushed cheeks. She fairly buzzed in nervous energy. “Why? What’s going on?”
“Who said anything’s going on?” she returned quickly, her eyes widening too far.
Tranis glanced at Lidon, who schooled his expression to be bland. Then Degorsk, who adopted an innocent look, which could only mean trouble. Degorsk hadn’t been innocent a day in his life.
“Okay, out with it.”
His male clanmates glanced at Cassidy, who shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Like hell you don’t.” He switched tactics, knowing how stubborn she could be. “What if I really am ill? Stressing over what’s happening at home can’t be advisable in such a case, can it? Oh, I…I feel faint.”
Degorsk shouted laughter as Tranis pretended to stagger, his hand to his forehead for dramatic effect. Lidon chuckled, an event in itself. Cassidy’s eyes rolled.
“Prophets, what an act. I want to tell you in person. It’s nothing bad.”
“No? Is it good then? Are you pregnant?”
He’d meant it as a joke, but she and Degorsk flicked another look at each other. For an instant, the roomdidwobble.
“Wait. You are?”
Chapter Twelve
Tranis gaped at his clanmates, not daring to hope.
“You ruined the surprise!” Cassidy pretended to pout, but a grin demolished the attempt. “Yes, darn it. You’re going to be a father.”
Tranis couldn’t help himself. He yelled, a mighty victory whoop echoing in his guest quarters. “That’s fantastic! Are you all right? Does everything look fine?” His abruptly worried gaze bounced from Cassidy to Degorsk, who’d begun his medical career as a doctor before becoming a psychiatrist.
“She’s perfect, and so is the fetus.”
“Did you implant one of the frozen embryos or—”
“As if we’d do such a thing before discussing it with you,” Cassidy said. “The doctor figures I was two weeks along when you ran off to Earth. The baby’s due in the spring.”
“You decided to continue the pregnancy.” Tranis’ jaw ached from the strength of his grin.
“We were waiting for me to finish my advanced studies, internship, and establish myself in my field. I’ve accomplished those goals. I saw no need to freeze this embryo when certain members of my clan have been hinting about becoming fathers for the last year.”
“Certain members?”
“All of you. Including the strong and usually silent type.” She nudged Lidon.
“I’m not getting any younger,” the eldest of them said.
“You aren’t even middle-aged in Kalquorian years,” Cassidy said, as if she didn’t call the ninety-plus Lidon “old man” when she felt he spoke condescendingly to her. She glared at them each in turn, then beamed to show she didn’t mean her irritability. “I’m ready.”
“I’m so happy.” Tranis wished he hadn’t insisted they tell him, though the news couldn’t have been better. The need to scoop his beloved Matara in his arms and hold her was overwhelming.
He forgot the bizarre low sugar count he’d briefly suffered, the lab tests, and his delayed return home. Despite not being in the midst of his clan on such a significant occasion, it was the happiest moment of his life.
